This Mother’s Day on Sunday 10th May 2020 will be unlike every other year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current social restrictions in place. Unlike every other year, traditional family lunches, picnics or social gatherings are simply not possible as social distancing rules require us to stay at home. So, we have put together some ways you can still celebrate Mum & let her know she is special and loved.

Order a special meal

The Mother’s day lunch does not have to be scrapped this year. Instead order a special meal and get it delivered to Mum’s on the day.

Maybe Pizza might be on the menu for dinner? With a range of delicious gourmet or traditional pizzas from Crunch Gourmet Pizzeria; Order via Menulog so Mum can enjoy not cooking or cleaning up this year!

Or perhaps a fresh lunch from Subway would suit Mum - delivered with Uber Eats.

On the other hand, if you live with Mum you can cook a special meal she will love. Woolworths have a great range of easy recipes where you can create a shopping list & pick up all the ingredient you need. Search for a recipe here!

Is Mum a seafood lover? Drop by to speak to the team at Fishi Business about all the fresh seafood at the best prices.

Organise a gift to be delivered beforehand

Whether it is a big bunch of flowers or a special gift, arrange your gift to be delivered to Mum before Mother’s Day. You might get a gift card form Woolworths or a nice bottle of bubbly from BWS. There are also other meal or gift vouchers that you could buy to treat mum this year.

Catch up virtually or post a special message

Drop into Fantastic Home & Gifts who stock a range of lovely cards, or if you are feeling crafty - create a personal and thoughtful card or handmade gift. Arrange to post this in the mail beforehand to arrive for Mum’s special day. On the day organise a virtual catch up with Mum or give her a call to let her know just how important she is.

How are you spending Mother’s Day with your Mum this year? Let us know on our Facebook page!

Craft: Craft is another great way for kids to learn and use their imagination as well as keeping them busy and entertained for a period of time. These activities may involve different levels of supervision depending on the age of your children.Fantastic Home & Gifts have a great variety of craft activities, or other supplies can be purchased from Woolworths at Thrift Park.Please pre-plan and shop as quickly and efficiently as possible when heading out during this time of social distancing.

We hope these ideas gave you some inspiration for what to do with kids at home over this time period. Be sure to tag us on Facebook if you end up doing any of these activities, we would love to see them.

Many of our retailers are currently still open, so please support small local businesses where possible over this time - but we kindly ask that you adhere to social distancing guidelines, health and hygiene regulations and order online if able.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and if you are struggling to think of date ideas, Thrift Park is here to ease the burden of deciding how to celebrate with your loved one. To save you hours of brainstorming and stress, here are our tips to spoil your partner without breaking the bank!

Good old-fashioned picnic

A well-planned picnic with attention to detail will never go out of fashion, nor will it disappoint your partner. Pick a spot that has some significance for you as a couple. Perhaps you met at this place or had a few dates there. Picking somewhere sentimental adds that extra element of romance! To ensure your picnic has all the necessities and more; head to Woolworths to stock up on fresh picnic supplies so no-one goes hungry. Don’t forget that chilled bottle of champagne from BWS for that added ‘sparkle’.

Book a massage

Sometimes the best gift you can give your partner is the gift of relaxation! Modern-day living can be stressful and time consuming with limited time for rest and relaxation. If you think your partner could do with some much needed ‘me’ time, consider purchasing a voucher from Green Bamboo Massage for a well-deserved massage and pampering. If you’re not one to want to miss out, consider making it a date and buy two massage vouchers! Follow up your date with a nice lunch and coffee at Caffeine Bean for the ultimate date!

Movie and take away

Take a step back in time and pick a movie the old-fashioned way at the Video Ezy kiosk. Pick from a range of new blockbusters or old-fashioned classics you can nestle in on the couch and watch with your partner. Take a night off from cooking and choose your favourite take away so you can both relax and unwind. Thrift Park has you covered when it comes to take-away options including tasty pizzas from Crunch Gourmet Pizza, sandwich artistry from Subway, fresh sushi from Sushi Sushi and delectable pastry options from Thrift Park Pies & Cakes. No taste bud will be left disappointed!

Gifts from the heart

Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are found together. If you are wanting to find a perfect gift for your partner, why not head into Fantastic Gifts & Homewares and spend some time browsing for something they would love, without having to break the bank. With so many homeware and gift options, you are both bound to find something you love.

Feeling lucky?

If Valentine’s Day has you feeling lucky, head into Thrift Park Sub News and pick up a Tattslotto ticket. Who knows, you could be the next big winner and a trip to Destination HQ to plan your next getaway could be on the cards!

International Women’s Day, on March 8th, is an annual celebration to recognize and appreciate the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women across the world. This day also raises awareness of the importance of gender equality. It is a day that has been gaining momentum since its beginning, with the first gathering recorded in 1911.

Thrift Park are joining in the celebrations of International Women’s Day with the chance to win a $100 Green Bamboo Massage Voucher by entering our Facebook competition. All you have to do is tag a friend that is deserving of this prize and like the Thrift Park Facebook Page to be in the draw.

There are other ways to get involved in the celebration of International Women’s Day and our top suggestions are as follows:

Make a day of it

Gather your girlfriends, mum, sisters, grandma and plan a ladies day out. Head to Thrift Park for a coffee and tasty lunch at Caffeine Bean, Thrift Park Pies and Cakes or Plantation Coffee and spend some time celebrating achievements, remembering milestones and discussing future plans and endeavours.

Organise a luncheon

If you prefer to host your own party to celebrate International Women’s Day, then stock up on fresh produce and all your catering needs at Woolworths at Thrift Park. Discover a range of food platters at the deli to cater for any number of guests, from wrap platters to antipasto options – your guests will well and truly be catered for. Don’t forget to grab a few bottles of sparkling from BWS to celebrate the day also.

Head to an event

International Women’s Day sees the rise of new events every year, worldwide. From conferences, awards nights, festivals, and fun runs - to corporate events and concert performances, there are many ways in which to get involved. You can head to www.internationalwomensday.com and search for events in your local town or city to find out more information.

Now that summer holidays are in full swing, it’s that time of year when our attention turns from backyard cricket and beach trips to back to school preparations! The task at hand and shopping lists can seem overwhelming and before you know it, it’s the first day of term! It can be a frantic time ensuring your kids have all they need for a new school year. Thrift Park is a great place to get organized and start your back to school shopping. Follow our handy tips for a stress-free and smooth transition from the holidays to the start of a new school year:

Prepare a list

Before you head to the shops, it is wise to take a few moments to compile a list of all the items you need for each child. Find out what stationary they need, whether they need a new lunch box or water bottle, if they need to supply their own workbooks and pencil cases. Check your cupboards for any of these items so you can reuse, otherwise add them to your list. Located at Thrift Park, Woolworths and Fantastic Home & Gifts have a great range of stationery supplies and are your go-to store for lunch boxes and water bottles.

Prepare convenient and healthy snacks

School mornings can be a crazy time preparing school lunches and getting kids out of the door in time. Taking some time during the holidays to plan out some healthy and quick lunch box snacks will pay dividends when it comes to saving time in the mornings. You can even prepare snacks ahead and pop in the freezer for when they are needed! Woolworths have some great ideas for healthy lunch box snackshere. Baker's Delight also have some great recipes for inspiration at their website here.